The deadline to file for the August primary came and went Wednesday with only a slight change to local races.
In Pottawatomie County, Nathan Gotsch filed before the deadline for the 1st District commission seat and will be an independent in the November election. Gotsch also ran in 2018, but lost to Republican Dee McKee, of Blue Township, who has also filed for re-election. McKee will face off against Republican Hans Tessmann, of St. George, in the primary. Tessmann is a former mayor of St. George.
In Riley County, Republican incumbent John Ford, of Manhattan, is unopposed in the race for the 1st district commission seat.
Among local state lawmakers, the only primary challenge is in the 64th House District, where incumbent Republican Suzi Carlson, of Clay Center is challenged by Bill Bloom, of Clay Center, and Brad Starnes, of Riley. Carlson won re-election by a 3 to 1 margin in 2020 and was unopposed that year in the primary, but she’s faced legal trouble this year, following a DUI arrest in Topeka in late January.
In the 67th District, Republican incumbent Mike Dodson, of Manhattan, has no primary challengers, but will have a Democratic challenger in November, after Manhattan resident Kim Zito filed for office.
In the 66th District, Democratic incumbent Sydney Carlin, of Manhattan, is unopposed. Carlin is the longest current serving area representative, with 19 years in office.
